PALPA, May 2: More than two years into the earthquake of April 25, 2015 that left nearly 9000 dead and destroyed around 22 thousand houses, quake victims in Sahalkot in Palpa are taking shelter in tents for want of money to build new houses. 

Their long wait for succor to build new houses seems to be a dream for them yet with government's announcement to provide reliefs to quake victims nowhere to be seen so far. 

Although the government has claimed that it has been providing reliefs to quake victims, some of them in the village have yet to get succor. As a result, many of them are taking refuse in tents without any monetary helps to build new houses. 

They have braved two winters and three monsoons since the quake struck two years ago. What is appealing that the victims are not sure when their hardships would end. 

"I have lost my hope to get relief amount to build a new house. My grandson who was born during the quake has started walking now. We are yet to get the first tranche of housing grant," said quake survivor Gobardhan Darji, 76, of Sahalkot Sukekot. 

"I constantly worry about how to feed and provide accommodation to my 19-member family as I am physically weak and cannot work properly," he said. 

Hardships of quake victims living in tents are coupled during winter and monsoon in particular as their accommodation fails to protect them from cold and rains. Elderly people, postnatal women and children have been affected most. Many of women were forced and are forced to deliver their babies in tents. 

In the village alone, two persons were killed due to cold since the quake occurred. 

"I am yet to start building a new house for I have not received the first tranche of the housing grant," said another quake victim Tilbir Rana. 

According to the Nepal Reconstruction Authority, 61 houses were destroyed completely in the quake in the area. 

The District Coordination Committee said of 10,495 houses in the district completely ravaged by the quake, an agreement has been sighed with 3431 families for the first tranche of the housing grant. RSS 

 
• earthquake
 
• palpa quake survivors
 
• construction fund